It's the culture shock to end them all - swapping the sophisticated, tactical excellence of Serie A for a ferocious Glasgow rivalry steeped in hatred.

But for four Italian stars who were plunged into the Old Firm maelstrom in recent years the verdict is unanimous - the passion, excitement and raw emotion of Scotland's biggest derby instantly won them over.

Ex-Rangers duo Lorenzo Amoruso and Rino Gattuso plus former Celtic pair Massimo Donati and Paolo di Canio last night looked back on their Old Firm experiences for an Italian newspaper feature on Sunday's clash, which Rangers won 2-1. AC Milan midfielder Gattuso spent the 1997-98 season at Ibrox - and remembers a livid Walter Smith hurling a boot at him.

He said: "I had just joined Rangers when I played in the Old Firm reserves game. There were 40,000 spectators and I thought these people are crazy!

"In the week building up to my first 'proper' derby Walter kept telling me to take it easy.

"But the game kicked off and I was rightly booked for my first challenge. In the dressing room I had to duck to avoid the boot the boss threw at me!" Unique Defender Amoruso, 38, ended a six-year spell at Ibrox in 2003.

He said: "I've been Rangers' first and only Catholic captain. I had problems at the beginning.

"I have always made the sign of the cross when I run on to the pitch and this was not welcomed.

"But people came to accept my faith did not stop me giving my all for Rangers."

Midfielder Donati joined Bari in the summer after two seasons at Parkhead.

He said: "The tensions of an Old Firm game are unparalleled for the players but reach insane levels among the fans.

"To play in a Glasgow derby is a unique experience."

Striker di Canio is now retired after ending his top-flight career with Lazio. He spent the 1996-97 campaign with the Hoops.

He said: "When you pull on a Celtic shirt it is like a blood transfusion - 100 years of history permeate your skin.

"Tradition is the key component of Celtic's world. I saw 90-year-old fans carried on other people's shoulders and being serenaded with chants."